signal
verb/ˈsɪɡnəl/
/ˈsɪɡnəl/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they signal | /ˈsɪɡnəl/ /ˈsɪɡnəl/ |
| he / she / it signals | /ˈsɪɡnəlz/ /ˈsɪɡnəlz/ |
| past simple signalled | /ˈsɪɡnəld/ /ˈsɪɡnəld/ |
| past participle signalled | /ˈsɪɡnəld/ /ˈsɪɡnəld/ |
| (US English) past simple signaled | /ˈsɪɡnəld/ /ˈsɪɡnəld/ |
| (US English) past participle signaled | /ˈsɪɡnəld/ /ˈsɪɡnəld/ |
| -ing form signalling | /ˈsɪɡnəlɪŋ/ /ˈsɪɡnəlɪŋ/ |
| (US English) -ing form signaling | /ˈsɪɡnəlɪŋ/ /ˈsɪɡnəlɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to make a movement or sound to give somebody a message, an order, etc.
- Don't fire until I signal.
- signal to somebody She signalled to the man, who immediately came over to her.
- signal for something A woman was leaning out a top-floor window, signaling for help.
- signal to somebody for something He signalled to the waiter for the bill.
- signal to/for somebody to do something He signalled to us to join him.
- The patrolman signalled for her to stop.
- signal somebody to do something She signalled him to follow.
- signal something The referee signalled a foul.
- signal (that)… She signalled (that) it was time to leave.
- signal which, what, etc… You must signal which way you are going to turn.
Extra Examples- I saw her signal frantically to us.
- Many animals use their tails to signal.
- When I'm ready I'll signal with a flashlight.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- frantically
- for
- to
Definitions on the go
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- [intransitive, transitive] to show that your vehicle is going to change direction, by using lights or your arm synonym indicate (8)
- Did you signal before you turned right?
- signal something to signal left/right
- signal (that)… I signalled that I was going to turn left.
- [transitive] signal something to be a sign that something exists or is likely to happen synonym indicate
- This announcement signalled a clear change of policy.
- The scandal surely signals the end of his political career.
- These events appeared to signal the end of an era.
- These changes clearly signal the end of the welfare state as we know it.
- A fall in demand does not necessarily signal the death of the industry.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- clearly
- effectively
- not necessarily
- …
- appear to
- seem to
- try to
- …
- [transitive] to do something to make your feelings or opinions known
- signal something He signalled his discontent by refusing to vote.
- signal (that)… She has signalled (that) she is willing to stand as a candidate.
More Like This Consonant-doubling verbsConsonant-doubling verbs
Word Originverb late Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin signale, neuter of late Latin signalis, from Latin signum ‘mark, token’. The verb dates from the early 19th cent.
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signal